The all-time Big East NBA mock draft

No. 9 overall pick in 2011

2010-11 UConn stats (Junior): 23.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.9 steals per game (Won National Title)

Continuing the common theme with Big East point guards, Walker became an All-Star caliber point guard despite a frame that puts him at a significant disadvantage to his contemporaries. At 6-foot-1 with just a 6-foot-3 wingspan, Walker’s ability to score at the rim and defend competently were in question. He was a highly productive college scorer and playmaker, but the idea of him translating that to the NBA was no sure thing.

However, he’s up here because those scoring chops were likely better than many evaluated at the time. He was an inconsistent shooter, but his mechanics were much better at this point than Lowry’s were, and he was more of a “work in progress” than an unknown in that regard. Walker’s athleticism and toughness were also likely under appreciated. His quickness allowed him to gain an edge on opponents off the dribble, and he could get to the rim consistently in college, despite inconsistencies finishing. The defensive concerns were valid, but Walker had real number one creator potential, even if he only became a sixth-man type bench scorer. Walker was a case of getting overly concerned about lack of wingspan and defensive potential, rather than appreciating his offensive strengths. To me, Walker coming out of UConn was a more sure bet to translate than Lowry would have been.